What is Insomnia?

Melatonin is an over-the-counter supplement that's marketed as a way to help overcome insomnia. Your body naturally produces melatonin, releasing it into your bloodstream in increasing amounts starting at dusk and tapering off toward the morning. For most people, taking a melatonin supplement isn't effective in treating insomnia. The safety of using melatonin for more than three months isn't known.

Narcolepsy

Is it hard for you to fall asleep or stay asleep though the night Do you wake up feeling tired or feel very sleepy during the day, even if you have had enough sleep You might have a sleep disorder. The most common kinds are Nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding your teeth are kinds of sleep problems called parasomnias. There are treatments for most sleep disorders. Sometimes just having regular sleep habits can help.

Insomnia

Insomnia includes having trouble falling or staying asleep. It's one of the most common medical complaints. With insomnia, you usually awaken feeling unrefreshed, which takes a toll on your ability to function during the day. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood, but also your health, work performance and quality of life.

Insomnia

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes overwhelming and severe daytime sleepiness. Pathologic sleepiness is characterized by the fact that it occurs at inappropriate times and places. The daytime sleep attacks may occur with or without warning, and can occur repeatedly in a single day. Persons with narcolepsy often have fragmented nighttime sleep with frequent brief awakenings.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that disrupts your normal sleeping pattern. It can cause you to fall asleep suddenly, without warning (known as "sleep attacks") and also tends to make you feel excessively drowsy during the day time.

Contents

Sleep is as important to your health as a healthy diet and regular exercise. Whatever your reason for sleep loss, insomnia can affect you both mentally and physically. People with insomnia report a lower quality of life compared with people who are sleeping well.

No matter what your age, insomnia usually is treatable. The key often lies in changes to your routine during the day and when you go to bed. Try these tips: Stick to a sleep schedule. Keep your bedtime and wake time consistent from day to day, including on weekends. Get out of bed when you're not sleeping. Sleep as much as needed to feel rested, and then get out of bed. If you can't sleep, get out of bed after 15 minutes and do something relaxing, such as reading. Avoid trying to sleep. The harder you try, the more awake you'll become. Read or watch television until you become very drowsy, then go to bed to sleep. Use your bed and bedroom only for sleeping or intimate relations. Don't read,...

Daytime sleepiness is the most common complication, though there is some evidence that lack of sleep can also lower your immune system's ability to fight infections. Sleep deprivation is also a common cause of auto accidents -- if you are driving and feel sleepy, take a break.

If you're having sleep problems, start by talking to your family doctor or a general practitioner. Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

Some simple measures may help you to get a good night's sleep. Try the below methods for at least three to four weeks. When you find you are asleep for most of the time you are in bed, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier, but make sure you get up at the same time.

Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night. But your risk of insomnia is greater if: You're a woman. Women are twice as likely to experience insomnia. Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle and in menopause play a role. Many women report problems sleeping during perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause. During menopause, night sweats and hot flashes often disturb sleep. In postmenopausal women, lack of estrogen is thought to contribute to sleep difficulties. You're over age 60. Because of changes in sleep patterns, insomnia increases with age. According to some estimates, insomnia affects nearly half of all older people. You have a mental health disorder. Many disorders,...

People who have primary insomnia tend to keep thinking about getting enough sleep. The more they try to sleep, the greater their sense of frustration and distress, and the more difficult sleep becomes.

The first step in treating insomnia is to diagnose and treat any underlying medical condition that is causing your insomnia. Once your condition is treated, your insomnia will often disappear without further medical help.